
Firat explains Masud Juma's Harambee Stars presence after 10-month injury layoff
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 10.10.24. | 17:23
Juma has been out of action since January when he picked up a bad injury
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has revealed that striker Masud Juma could return to the national team during the November FIFA international break, as Kenya faces Namibia and Zimbabwe in the final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches.
The Saudi Arabia-based forward has been sidelined from the national team this year following an Achilles tendon injury he sustained in January, which required surgery. Now, 10 months later, Juma is still working on regaining full fitness.
Speculation about his possible involvement in the upcoming AFCON qualifiers grew after the striker was spotted training with the Harambee Stars.
The team has been in camp preparing for their doubleheader against Cameroon—set for Friday in Yaounde—and the return leg in Uganda on Monday.
However, on Wednesday, Firat clarified that Juma, who did not take part in the final training session at the Police Sacco Grounds, was only involved in training for assessment purposes, not as part of the squad for the Cameroon match.
"Masoud is not here for the matches. He wasn't in the pre-squad," Firat explained during a Wednesday press briefing. He added that the purpose of having Juma in camp was to evaluate the player's condition following his long-term injury.
"I wanted to see where he is in terms of fitness and assess what he's missing, which is why I invited him," Firat continued.
The coach has provided Juma with a personalized program to help him regain his form and expressed hope that he will be ready for the November international break.
"It's also a motivation for Masoud to be involved in this way. He looks good, but there are still areas that need improvement. I've given him a plan, and I hope to see him back with the team next month."
Juma, who has been Kenya’s second-choice striker behind Michael Olunga in recent years, has occasionally started alongside Olunga, playing either on the right or left flank in some matches.













